Red Rain [Jason Todd]

.62

"Happy birthday!!!" Everyone cheers for Jason.

It's August again; summer had come and gone rather quickly, the drop in temperature and the falling leaves indicating the approach of good ol' autumn.

There's a cake in front of Jason as everyone surrounds him, sitting in the dining room at my place.

He tried to look un-phased by the small ceremony for him, but I knew Jason when he was at his happiest. And I can see that these are one of those times.

"Come on, blow out your candles!" Izzy squeals excitedly, "I'm ready for my slice for heaven's sake!"

"Seriously? How old do you think I am?" He questions and everyone answers with '24', making him roll his eyes. Laughter tumbles over our group of 7 —excluding Jason — before he blows out his candles.

I stand behind him, hands massaging his shoulders while everyone cheers again. I lean down and kiss his cheek before moving to take my seat. His eyes remain on me, sparkling with a warm, small smile on his face.

"Go on. Cut the cake, birthday boy." Roy gestures to him and he peels his eyes away.

Clearing his throat, his eyebrows slightly furrow while he grabs the cake knife, mumbling 'right' beneath his breath. It made me giggle to myself.

"Aw, lemon." He places his hand on his chest as he moves his slice onto his plate. Glancing over at me, I shake my head and point over to Izzy.

He smiles brightly, "Who told you lemon cake was my favorite?"

Izzy points to Roy who waves happily with a cheesy grin on his face.

Jason laughs softly and nods his head, "Thank you. I haven't had lemon cake since...forever."

"Well you've got it now. My turn!" Izzy takes the cake knife next and grabs her slice. I'm surprised she's still hungry from dinner... Well, actually no I'm not.

When everyone gets their slice, the order screwed up because Izzy wasn't next in the seating arrangement, we dig in. I haven't had one if Izzy's cakes in a long time and it's delicious. The frosting's good, the cake is soft and spongy, thick and layered almost too perfectly.

"Funny how you're hungry for your own cake." Dick laughs lightly at Izzy from how quickly she stuffed her mouth with her large slice.

She freezes and looks at everyone who smiled knowingly at her. She slowly raises her head from her plate and brings her fork back down from her lips. She slowly chews while letting out a soft, laughing noise from her nose, closed lips still managing to smile through her full cheeks.

Roy rubs his finger over the corner of her lip, ridding it of the left over frosting there before licking it from his finger.

Jason clears his throat suddenly again, making everyone giggle a little. Kori, who sits next to him, pats his arm, "Slow down, Jason. The cake is not going anywhere."

"Yeah, don't eat like Izzy." Roy jokes, making her nudge his arm. He shrugs and mumble 'it's true' in quiet laughter while Jason looks from them and back to Kori with a nod of his head.

"It's just so good." He breathes with a sheepish smile, then he looks over at me, "You gotta start making me these, babe."

I snicker softly, shaking my head while scooping another piece of my slice with my fork and bringing it up to my lips, "I don't think they'll be as good as Izzy's though."

When everyone's finally full and there's only one more slice of the large lemon cake left, Dick's eyes light up in excitement.

"Finally! Time to give the birthday boy his birthday gifts!" He points at him, "You gotta open mine first."